Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Nineteen

The next morning, Owlflight blinked against the bright morning light. Buzzardwing's nest beside her was empty, which was more and more habit each day. As their camp grew bigger, cats had begun moving their nests into the big den. Bloompaw and Black were in their own slightly smaller den, and Sparrow was overseeing a larger den that she stayed in as she prepared for her kits. The elders, too, had their own dens, and— despite the warriors best efforts, it was becoming harder and harder not to acknowledge their ragtag group as a possible Clan.

Owlflight sighed, still hoping for a sign from StarClan, a sign that would tell her that this was meant to be, that she and her friends were a Clan— not just a misshapen group of rouges, loners, and lost warriors..

Shaking out her fur, Owlflight stood and stretched, determined to set aside her worries for another day. She pushed her way through the ivy and out of the small shallow den dug out under a tangle of roots beneath the massive oak that brought shade to most of the camp. Voices flitted about, and snippets of conversations met her voice until one familiar voice in particular brought her to a dead halt.

She should've stayed in her den.

"Well, well, well," he said with a teasing lilt, "Good afternoon, Bunny. Did you get enough sleep?" Owlflight fluffed out her fur, her eyes flaring as she met Rowan's gaze from across camp, where he spoke with Oakcharge. She stalked right up to him and growled with frustration.

"What are you doing here, Rowan? I told you to leave!" She huffed indignantly. Rowan stepped close, looking smug and annoyed.

"And I told you, Bunny, that you don't control me or own the forest. I go as I please," he said, his eyes challenging as he boasted an air of smugness. Owlflight stepped closer.

"Then go as you please some-where-else," she growled, putting emphasis on the "somewhere else" bit. Rowan leaned in, his eye full of arrogance as he smiled his most dangerous smile. His face was close to hers, only a whisker apart as he whispered:

"No." Owlflight glared, fury building in her gaze as she let out a very controlled, frustrated breath. She jerked her head back and bared her teeth.

"Why are you here, Rowan?" She snapped finally. She did not see the growing crowd in her annoyance, nor did Rowan, but several cats gathered loosely around them, watching tensely and curiously. Rowan sat back leisurely and begun licking a paw, much to Owlflight's further annoyance.

"Well you see, Bunny, I'm short of a good sleeping place. Life is tough in these woods when all alone, you know. Fox wanted my nest, and I wasn't gonna fight for it. Not a battle worth picking," he looked up. "You following me?" He asked slowly. Owlflight narrowed her eyes.

"I'm trying not to," she replied snidely, her voice dripping sarcasm. Rowan nodded and continued.

"So, anyway, in my search for a place to stay, I recalled something a little Bunny told me. There is a group living in the glade. So, here I am, ready to join." He meowed nonchalantly, still licking his paw, though he had moved onto the other one. Owlflight snorted, gazing back at him through bright eyes.

"You? You want to live here?" She asked, disbelief edging her chuckle. Rowan paused his grooming.

"Yes, Bunny. Is that so hard to believe? That a good, nice tom like me needs a place to call home?" He asked, his voice mocking innocence. Owlflight rolled her eyes.

"Good and nice are not the words I'd use to describe you," she muttered. He grinned at her, his air changing into a false disinterest.

"What would you use to describe me, Bunny?" He asked, his voice cool and lazy. Owlflight sniffed the air dispassionately.

"Arrogant and selfish," she tutted, then shot another glare his way, "And don't call me bunny!" Ravenleaf intervened before he could respond, smiling coyly.

"Well, I say he should stay," Owlflight's sister meowed. "We made this place available to any loner in need and we could use some... confident cats in our group." She decided the word nicely. Buzzardwing snorted.

"I'm all the confidence we need," The she cat muttered, "But I agree, we could use more help." Owlflight spluttered.

"I.. but- Oakcharge?" She looked to her brother, seeking his opinion. The tom shrugged.

"I don't see the issue. The only cat here that doesn't like him so far is you. And we can't turn away a cat in need because he annoys you," her brother said nonchalantly, "Besides, it was your idea to offer shelter to any cats in need."
Rowan smiled.

"See Bunny? I'm in need," he said with a Cheshire grin. Owlflight stood glaring at him, seething.

"Fine," She seethed through gritted teeth, her eyes glittering, "But if you call me Bunny again, I will not hesitate to claw your pelt off." She snapped, and stalked away, disgruntled. She faintly heard Oakcharge instruct Rowan where to make a nest as pawsteps scampered after her. She looked up to see Buzzardwing.

"What was that about?" The white she cat asked her friend, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Owlflight sighed.

"What is what about?" She asked wearily. Buzzardwing snorted.

"Don't play dumb, mouse-brain! I'm talking about that obviously tense argument you and the new guy just had!" Her friend whispered excitedly, "Do you like him?" Owlflight stared at her in horror.

"Oh, StarClan, no," she said, aghast, "Why in StarClan's name would you think that?" She asked, horrified. Buzzardwing shrugged.

"That's how it is most of the time. If you are mean to another cat or pick on them, then you probably actually like them." She said wisely, nodding her head once in assertion. Owlflight burst into laughter.

"That is the most mouse-brain thing I've heard today! When you are mean to another cat, it usually means you don't like them." Buzzardwing sniffed daintily.

"Laugh all you want, but Beeflower told me so, so I know it's true." She said primly. Owlflight chuckled.

"Maybe, but I can assure you that I most certainly do not like him." Owlflight said assuredly. Buzzardwing shrugged and continued talking with her friend.

The cats living in the glen drew around the Nursery anxiously, eyes glancing at the entrance nervously. The last two moons were filled with enforcing camp walls and preparing for the birth of Sparrow's litter. Her kitting came too soon, in Owlflight's opinion. She paced nervously in front of the den, not sure what to do.

"I don't remember the herbs Kestrelflight would use when the queens were kitting!" She whispered anxiously to Buzzardwing. "All we were able to give Sparrow was a stick and water-soaked moss!" Buzzardwing looked up.

"Who is with her?" The warrior asked. Ravenleaf looked up.

"Cow is, she said she has helped kitting queens before." The black warrior responded. Owlflight sighed.

"Yes, but she said the birth was taking too long," Owlflight said anxiously, "Sparrow is getting tired." The listening cats broke into uneasy whispers, particularly Blackberry, as these were her brother's kits being born. Oakcharge looked up. Over the last two moons, all the cats had grown closer, and no one wanted this kitting to end badly.

"Should we ask the RippleClan medicine cat?" He asked, eyes worried. Owlflight was about to answer when a rustle at the entrance of camp alerted the cats. Standing in the tree stump tunnel was a grizzled-looking white she cat with a sour gaze. The stranger dropped a bundle on the ground, revealing herbs.

"No need to go to those fish-brained fools," the cat spoke, her voice rough and annoyed. "My name is Icepool, and StarClan sent me a message to come help you."